Chapter 5
Letters I
Dear Tomo-sempai,
I think your handwriting is just beautiful. Given the fact that you're ill, it's still neat and nice. It's great!
Thank you for giving me the honour to be your friend. You said that people must constantly be on their best performance so they will not regret. I completely agree. It's fine to imagine you're on stage, not stupid. Your stage plays are much better and relaxed than real life. In real life you can't solve your problems so quickly and efficiently. I feel So stressed at times. Yet I cannot do anything. Oh sorry to worry you....
Tomo sempai, try not to be disheartened. God will help you and strengthen you when you're down. We are all praying for you always.
When is your birthday? I would love to go for dinner with you. We can ask Miss Kenni too.
Disbelief of the soulmates principle? I don't know, there is no evidence about this but I did not want to hurt your feelings when you mentioned this. I will be your soulmate if that is how you wish it to be. I learnt a concept called guardian angel, each of us has one assigned to take good care of us, giving advice in our dreams or inspiring us. Unlike human friends they will always be with you. What do you think?
Cancer is very painful. Could you tell me more about this illness? Is there any more we can help? Do ask. I love to read your letters too. Take care!
Love, Bern
Hi Bern-chan,
Arigatou for your concern and friendship. It really is nice to know I have got such a sweet friend and fan like you for support. Um, cancer.... Yes it is painful. I need to take a lot of medication to keep the cells from spreading. So far I am doing fine, just dizzy and my stomach feels like, how do I put this, feels like empty and I want to throw up, especially after chemotherapy. This is a medicine drip hooked to my arm, I'm sure you've seen it sometimes at my house. It is terrible. I feel very cold and hot at the same time. I do not wish it on anyone else. I also need to sleep a lot! Aren't I a pig? When I have flu or fever it does not recover like a norm two weeks, it takes a month or more. So I have to be very careful not to go out too late and observe how my body is reacting.
Guardian angels? Wow! It's a fantastic concept. To have somebody who takes care of me every minute. I think it's really nice. I am Christian, but I am accepting of such romantic concepts, dreamy or imaginative concepts....... I am happy just to be your friend, Bernadette!
You sound very troubled. I will listen if you need to talk to me. Are you more comfortable talking or writing? It is no trouble. Praise for my plays, yeah I still need improvement here and there. Thank you, any negative points you want to comment about?
My birthday, actually I am forgetful. It's in October, I think the 13th of Oct if I' m not wrong. How about your birthday? I don't want you guys to waste money, so I don't reveal my birthday. I feel awkward if people buy so many gifts, like teddy bears, flowers, books, you know? I don't use them at all. I plan to give those away to charity for kids who want presents.
Please be my soulmate. I want you to be. Why? Because you're the one person I can relate to very well, as you know my parents died when I was young and I only have Saito and Kenni for company but they're very old fashioned. I don't confide everything to them! They nag at me.
Write back,
Tomo-chan
Dear Tomo sempai,
Hi again! Sorry for the long interval. I am busy preparing for the exams. I hate history, so many facts to remember! And accounting sucks. I admire people who don't go to school. I want to skip school and not have to worry about it at all!
My trouble, is... I' m lonely. I am not very smart, but I am not stupid either. If I know the answer I will tell , but people don't like me for it. I do have a few friends. They're just like you: kind, always listening and stuff, I appreciate that. Do I appear too greedy if I want to have a lot of friends and be popular like other people? The pop. people seem so lucky! They just have people flocking to them. I have so much skin problems too! Yuck, I wish I had better complexion.
Blah blah, those are my problems. I guess you may find them interesting to analyse.
Ok I will be your soulmate. Nag at you? Seriously I think they are nice people. What do you disagree on? You can talk to me too if you need to, it's only fair. You can write me or call me but I can't promise you I will be able to talk to you coz my folks are always keeping a tab on the bill. Hope you're feeling better now. Rest more.
I'll take it as the 13th of October then, you're Libra on the astrology chart. My birthday is June 17. I'm a Geminian.
Love: Bern
Dear Bernadette-chan,
Sorry for replying so late, are you mad at me? I have been to the hospital a lot for check ups and when Kenni fell down and cut herself on a pen knife we also had to do that. Do not worry I'm now on the recovery route. Kenni has a large bandage on her right wrist and can't strain too much so I have to help with the cooking. We are on a cookie making lesson now. I used to dislike cooking as I think [pardon me for this anti female statement] ladies should be the ones doing the housework. Now I respect it as a form of recreation and art.
I am very sad you feel this way, about being smart and yet people don't appreciate you for your talents. I'm sure you will make a great scientist and astrologist next time! Don't bother about them, how about others, yep those few people you're telling me, they deserve you more than ever! Those stupid popular people...... did you know they aren't as popular as it seems? Your acne problems will go away as you grow up. You look lovely, Bern. Genuine and sincere remark.
You don't have to be popular, You are loveable and okay as You are.
Exams.... Lucky I didn't have to go through too much. It must be hard, good luck. Ganbatte! You're doing fine. It is ok, you're so busy I don't expect you to reply me so quickly either. That's all right, update me about your problems.
Libra, very interesting! Do they actually tell you what your personality is about? I would like to know more, I only know moodiness is true. And unable to make decisions. What else? Gemini, no wonder you're so smart.
Write soon. (mean when you're free) Take care.
Tomo sempai Dearest Tomo-chan:
Thank you. I finally finished the bloody exams!!!! YES! Now it's vacation time, hey why am I telling you this I could visit you again after so long. But it's ok you can get this early and be very happy.
That's horrible, I hope you're out of hospital now. I wanted to cry when I read that part. Is it right, my mum told me she saw you perform on the 16th of May and 18th? I wish I hadn't missed that! Will you be doing any more plays soon? Do tell me ------- I will come and support you! How do you summon the strength to do this when you're feeling awful, sick or flu? Please don't go onstage when you're ill, it's detrimental (what a long word) to your health. You must rest and sleep often. Enough that is.
Yes that was anti female but I forgive you since you're so kind as to make such a beautiful piece of phrase there! smile Librans are indecisive and moody, also you're usually good looking definitely, happy go lucky, have a natural charisma for meeting many people. I guess these are true.... I missed this fact out, good at listening to people, but biased towards your family, treat your friends better. That's bad.
Gemini ya we're smart! But stupid in some ways too, yeah I took into a ccount all your words, but this is honest.
Thank you for all your wonderful advice! You make me feel so lucky to be me! Well we'll be able to see each other soon.
Lots of love,
Bern
